Tolbert:Melky Cabrera said he would like to stay here ... and he said he would like to have his agent talk with you guys about getting a contract extension done. Do you or will you have those conversations ... ?

Sabean: We are open to it, and we would hope that at some point both sides can have a conversation to at least lay the groundwork and kind of set some parameters. The $64,000 question, though, is how many years and how much money. I think there is strong mutual interest ...

Ratto: If you were his agent, just to play devil's advocate, what would be the advantage of not seeing what the open market would bear, given the kind of year he's had?

Sabean: I don't know. I usually don't try to put myself in their position, because some of the thinking certainly has to be self-serving, which we all understand. You would think that they would also see that he has - I don't want to say he's been well-traveled, but certainly over the last snapshot of his career, that's been the case. What you can't ignore is the last year and a half of him as a hitter. One of the things that I think we all have to tip our hat to is that he's still young enough that this could be his coming out party, or him coming into his own as this type of hitter. The seeds were planted with the Yankees' organization way back when, on some really good teams where he was a complementary player in a great lineup. ... You look at the career overall, and the toughest thing, I think at times, is to recommend the client but to get on the same page with the line of logic from whoever's negotiating with you from an organizational standpoint, as to what it means against other players. I think we can establish that he's not a power guy, or necessarily a run producer, and he's not the center fielder. So you would think there would be a common theme between both parties in that regard. But the tough thing is, hitters in general are few and far between. ... Quite frankly, it's hard to develop guys like this. If you use Melky as an example, it took him a while to do it.

Tolbert: In regards to Gregor Blanco, what would you attribute his lack of success over the last maybe five weeks or so of the first half to?

Sabean: I think he got worn down mentally and physically. If you watch how he's been getting behind the eight-ball in terms of the last month and the lack of doing what you want your leadoff hitter to do, he's getting pitched tough inside. Then once they establish that and he maybe falls behind, they can do what they want with him with the slider, so to speak. I think within that, he's had some decent at-bats, and he's had an opportunity with this break ... to clear his mind. (Angel) Pagan's another example. ... This lineup is going to have to have a much better second half, and hopefully will not only score more runs but also do more damage with runners in scoring position. ... I've never seen a team that's had as many opportunities have as few two-out hits. ... We have to turn that around.

Ratto: Given that there are so many teams still in the playoff race in both leagues, how would you project the market will be when we get closer to the trade deadline (July 31)?

Sabean: I would say from experience - and given the fact that right now people are in the information gathering mode more than the attack, or make-a-deal mode - it would be more active toward the end. ... I would say later, and that might be a good thing, because then you'll have the true sellers really meaning business.

Tolbert: If (Santiago) Casilla falters, does (Sergio) Romo have the body type, the elasticity in his arm that you could use him as a closer on multiple days?

Sabean: I don't think so. His elbow has flared up from time to time. Some of it's arm angle, some of it's how he grinds on that breaking ball, which is almost like a Wiffle ball to most right-handed hitters. And this year he's come up with two funky knees, and actually wears two braces now. So I would doubt it.

Tolbert: Speaking of closers, I'm sure you enjoyed Brian Wilson hanging out with the Sasquatch at the ESPYs ...

Ratto: Why would you watch it at all?

Sabean: I didn't. My kids dragged me in to say, "Have you seen what Wilson's doing tonight?" And I said, "No, I haven't." So you go along, and they show you. They pulled it up online ...

Ratto: When they say that, does it sound in your head like, "Dad, I just put the car into the lagoon ... ?"

Now Playing:

Sabean: Oh, you just hope he has clothes on.

The KNBR Conversation is a weekly interview culled from the archives of KNBR 680/1050 AM.

Latest from the SFGATE homepage:

Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.